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Why Wenger would be a fool to sell Bendtner

By 2011/08/18 41 Comments

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After a disappointing end to last season, numerous Arsenal fans were calling for several players to be booted out of the club. I remember logging onto Twitter one day and seeing a great number of Arsenal fans I follow, tweeting the five players they wanted Wenger to sell this summer.

Whilst this may have been a bit of a rash reaction to a poor end to the season, it was understandable, emotions were running high, and many fans were finding it difficult to come to terms that Arsenal had ended their sixth consecutive season without a trophy. Out of all the names that popped up, one of the names that was on everybody’s lips was, Nicklas Bendtner.

It was no surprise really; all too often Bendtner is frustrating to watch. When attending matches, I would regularly witness his own fans throwing abuse in his direction; over the past couple of seasons it’s been plain to see that the Danish striker is not a favourite amongst the Emirates faithful.

In ninety-nine percent of these tweets, Bendtner was joined by another player who has recently left the club on loan, Denilson. The Brazilian midfielder fell into a similar category to Bendtner, you just didn’t know what you was going to get from him. Some games he’d do his job well, sitting behind the playmaker, moving the ball on with no fuss. Yet in some games, he struggled to string passes together and at times he was completely non-existent in the defensive third of the pitch. I agreed with these Arsenal fans, I didn’t want them at Arsenal any longer.

Fast-forward to the present day and I find myself with a completely different view on things, a view that I believe a lot of Arsenal fans are not too proud to admit to. After the loss of Cesc Fabregas and the potential departure of Samir Nasri, the Arsenal midfield is starting to look desperately thin.

Pair this with the departure of Carlos Vela on loan, the African Cup of Nations in January and an injury prone Robin Van Persie, by the turn of the New Year, Arsenal may well have no senior strikers fit. By now, many Arsenal fans will have expected that new signings would be in place to help improve a squad that has been short of winning trophies one too many times.

Unless Wenger has genuine belief that Benik Afobe or Chuks Aneke can step up to the first team this season, I think it would be foolish to sell Bendtner. Arsenal’s options in midfield at the moment are Song, Wilshere, Ramsey, Diaby, Rosicky, Frimpong and Nasri, one may leave soon, two are injured and one is suspended for three games. Denilson may not provide a massive amount of quality, but it would have been nice to have the experience of the Brazilian to call on this weekend against Liverpool. It seems like now Arsenal are in need of two players many fans were originally discarding as, not good enough for their beloved football club.

JAMES LAMB – Follow me on Twitter @GoallineJLamb

 

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  • Berg10

    Yer avin a larf surely?

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  • gooner1

    or he could just buy someone better

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  • Scott Sheldon

    shows how despreate we are and have become if we require the services of Bendtner and Denilson 

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  • EIE

    Bentner & Eboue, 2 of the worst ever

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  • Despairing Gooner

    That’s what makes this whole self inflicted mess so desperate. Denilson has left because he’s not good enough, now we’ve sold all our best players and Denilson is all of a sudden the answer? We’ve had all summer to recruit where we desperately need it. 

    CB, DMF (ACN will see both Song and Frimpong l have no faith in Diaby’s ability to either stay fit or play the DMF role) 2x Creative Midfielders to replace Cesc and Nasri (if Ramsey or Wilshere, 2 teenagers get injured we have literally no one to play in midfield) and a Striker. If we sell Bentdner then you can guarantee RVP will be injured around Christmas while Chamakh is off at the ACN being invisible for Morocco! 5 players needed, 3 of those needed before the summer even started and let’s face it, it’s not going to happen. I don’t even know why, Wengers decision making is inexplicable! At what point did we need to spend 15m on an 18 year old League 1 right winger when we already have Walcott and we just bought Gervinhio and Myachi? I’d happily have him as it’s always good to have quality and potential in the squad but it’s so far from a priority it’s unreal! Wenger is faced with the most difficult 2 weeks imaginable, Liverpool, very losable ECL qualifier, Man U….. If we lose to Udinese how do we attract top talent without the promise of ECL football. We could have bought all our players at the start of the summer, bed them in, with the knowledge that the first few weeks of the season looks to be the toughest and most important. How is Frimpong making his debut against Liverpool in the EPL instead of in the Carling Cup? CAn someone explain that to me……

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  • 54yearsoldfgoonner

    Bentner obviously is much better than Chamak whom I now grade with sylvester, senderos, cygan and Almunia is a the worst purchases by Wanker sorry Wenger.

    I said at the start of the transfer market that we would not see any significant signing except where there is a possibility that we would not qualify for the champions league second round.

    Every single year at the start of the transfer market Wenger says “We have money and we would strength key positions” at the middle of the transfer season “We are active in the market but have not seen the quality we need” towards the end of the transfer market Wenger says “this is not a supermarket where you simply get the player you want, every team is looking for the right quality for their team and if we see any better then the players we already have we can do a deal”. At the end of the transfer season “It was not easy getting the right quality but we have a strong team with a strong philosophy that can compete for all the four trophy. We have this player or that player returning from a long term injury and is like a new signing”

    Arsenal needs a new Manager, 1 FWD, 2 attacking CM, 1 defensive CM, 1
    CB and 1 LWB.

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    • James mc daid

      And a new owner and board.

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    • NepaliGunner

      And some new fans as well.

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      • bennybobo

        and that’ll only happen if we start winning games

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      • James mc daid

        only rich need apply.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-Bevins/100001258524336 Phillip Bevins

    I’m laughing with you Berg10, 
    At this point in time we have 4 players other than Bendtner who I regard as senior strikers.  VP is obviously our number one, but personally I would prefer Walcott to be our 2nd choice followed closely by Gervinho.  This means that Arsenal’s two marquee signings will be a top winger who doubles as a play maker.  This signing will be Hazard, Mata is now out of the running and good riddance.  I don’t want another Spanish player who is always injured.  Hazard is quite obviously a perfect fit for Arsenal.   He has the potential to be better than Nasri or Fabregas.  With Walcott and Gervinho as genuine options as strikers, we don’t need Bendtner or anyone else up top.  Hazard would be vital because we need another world class play maker.  I believe that Wilshere and Hazard can both surpass their predecessors.  With the front problem solved the only problems left are that there isn’t a 3rd choice left back, Squillaci must not be 4th choice and finally we need a world class left defensive midfielder to partner Song when Wilshere plays further forward.  I believe there is only one player in the world who can fill this gap and that is Jan Vertonghen.  He is equally competent in all three positions, although I believe he is a world class player when played in midfield.  As a bonus, he adds much height to our short midfield not to mention he is a commanding and confident player.  Both have won their respective leagues this past season.  Finally, Eden Hazard is Vermaelen’s cousin.  While Vertonghen is Vermaelen’s best friend.  All are Belgian and play together for their country (a rising football powerhouse) 

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    • Mexican Gunner

      Totally agree on Vertonghen, everybody is talking about Benzema, Mata blah blah…  But the player I think we need the most is Vertonghen cus is the only capable of play as DM (I think he´s better than Song), can play as LB if Gibbsie is injured the whole season or Traore is not good enough, or can play as CD next to his best mate.

      Arsene should put a bigger eye on belgians cus I think they are the new frenchs.

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    • Mexican Gunner

      Totally agree on Vertonghen, everybody is talking about Benzema, Mata blah blah…  But the player I think we need the most is Vertonghen cus is the only capable of play as DM (I think he´s better than Song), can play as LB if Gibbsie is injured the whole season or Traore is not good enough, or can play as CD next to his best mate.

      Arsene should put a bigger eye on belgians cus I think they are the new frenchs.

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    • Mexican Gunner

      Totally agree on Vertonghen, everybody is talking about Benzema, Mata blah blah…  But the player I think we need the most is Vertonghen cus is the only capable of play as DM (I think he´s better than Song), can play as LB if Gibbsie is injured the whole season or Traore is not good enough, or can play as CD next to his best mate.

      Arsene should put a bigger eye on belgians cus I think they are the new frenchs.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-Bevins/100001258524336 Phillip Bevins

    I’m laughing with you Berg10, 
    At this point in time we have 4 players other than Bendtner who I regard as senior strikers.  VP is obviously our number one, but personally I would prefer Walcott to be our 2nd choice followed closely by Gervinho.  This means that Arsenal’s two marquee signings will be a top winger who doubles as a play maker.  This signing will be Hazard, Mata is now out of the running and good riddance.  I don’t want another Spanish player who is always injured.  Hazard is quite obviously a perfect fit for Arsenal.   He has the potential to be better than Nasri or Fabregas.  With Walcott and Gervinho as genuine options as strikers, we don’t need Bendtner or anyone else up top.  Hazard would be vital because we need another world class play maker.  I believe that Wilshere and Hazard can both surpass their predecessors.  With the front problem solved the only problems left are that there isn’t a 3rd choice left back, Squillaci must not be 4th choice and finally we need a world class left defensive midfielder to partner Song when Wilshere plays further forward.  I believe there is only one player in the world who can fill this gap and that is Jan Vertonghen.  He is equally competent in all three positions, although I believe he is a world class player when played in midfield.  As a bonus, he adds much height to our short midfield not to mention he is a commanding and confident player.  Both have won their respective leagues this past season.  Finally, Eden Hazard is Vermaelen’s cousin.  While Vertonghen is Vermaelen’s best friend.  All are Belgian and play together for their country (a rising football powerhouse) 

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  • Webuncle

    Bentner is better than Chamak, Arshavin and a few more. But management want to cash in now. They tempted him on a cheap deal and now want 12 mil.
    It’s all down to business – always has been and let’s not fool ourselves by believing they care much for fans; as long as fans fill the seats that is.

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  • actual gooner

    I’m getting distinctly bored of all the WHINGING by half-baked, glory hunting arsenal fans who all ‘appeared’ out of the woodwork after the invincibles season and now think they have the right to criticise the Arsenal philosophy and feel that their hours wasted on football manager means that they know something about football…..YOU DON’T! You want your club to go spend millions on overrated, self indulgent and despicable individuals then go support City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real, AC Milan or any other team that has forgotten about their legacy with the beautiful game. Wenger quite clearly knows a lot more about managing a football club, is unquestionably the second best manager in premier league manage and the best in the world at managing a club within sensible economic constraints. So to all you pathetic fans who I am shamed to have supporting my club….B****r off.

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  • Toks

    Am sure many of you where the same muppets that were shouting for Wenger to pay £10mil for Chamakh on the last year of his contract and have been calling for Bendtner to go. Now the stories different…Am sure glad Arsene doesn’t listen to you lot.

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  • Tommi Gooner

    It’s a very sad and worrying time when some people are saying why we should be keeping Bendtner and then comparing him to Chamakh, Both are not the full ticket compared to previous strikers this great club could once boast. 

    Chamakh is little short of awful but Wenger won’t shift him as his ego is too big to admit a player he waited for to get on a ‘Bosman’ is not Premiership quality. 

    To find a degree of how other clubs (big or small) perceive Bendtner, ask yourself this ‘how comes he still an Arsenal player?’. He has made no secret of his desire to leave. Now considering he thinks himself as ‘one of the best strikers in the world’ you would of thought there was a massive queue for his services. Strangely there isn’t. 

    If Bendtner played half as well as if thinks he is – then we would have one hell of a player, however, sadly we don’t.

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  • devv

    N52 should NEVA play for arsenal again. what a joke article.. we should be prepared to play a female 15 year old instead of that beanpole…the reason he is still at our club is bcoz NOONE IN THE WORLD wants him. or theyre not willing to pay his unbelieveably high wages. bcoz hes worth 5grand aweek at BEST.

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    • Eamon O’Neill

      He could be one of our best players.     What do you know about him anyway

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  • Dc

    To the Actual Gooner – who the F….. are you to suggest that people commenting here are glory hunting Arsenal fans. Just because you don’t like what they say does not mean you are more Arsenal than they are!  Have respect for other people’s views and politely challenge them.  OK rant over.   Back to the article.     

    It would be extremely UNWISE  to keep Bendtner because is is rubbish and no where near the standard of an Arsenal striker!  We should sell him when we can, use the money to buy a player with better basic attributes (speed, power, touch etc), which Wenger can mould into something. Bendtner has NONE of these attributes.  We are seriously lacking a dangerous forward which is why we are so dependent on the midfield.  

    Personally i would rather see Afobe or Aneke given a run out. Bendtner has had his chance and has proven not worthy of the shirt.

    Now Chamakh…. this is really difficult one because he has shown that he does have some quality (at the start of his Arsenal career) and then suddenly has declined.  One key thing is that we are NOT playing to his strength which is his aerial power. When in France how many headed goals did he score???  a lot.  Arsenal have changed his game and it is not a game he is good at.  I am not a Chamakh fan and never was because i think he is too slow and too lightweight, BUT his strength is in the box with his head and we need to play to that or sell him because we are wasting him.  It is like the Jamaican athletics team taking Usain Bolt and making him run the 1,500 metres then complaining when he doesn’t win!   

    Midfield, we should have Jack Wilshere and Aronn Ramsey as the creative midfielders (used alternatively – NOT together), supported by Song and Frimpong as the work-horses, defensive midfielders (kind of how Viera and Gilberto operated).   This will give us the steel we need, protect the back four and allow Jack or Arron to roam and be creative.   Upfront we need a new, quick, powerful striker.

    Just my view and you can choose to disagree (but respectfully please as we are all Arsenal fans) D

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  • Dc

    To the Actual Gooner – who the F….. are you to suggest that people commenting here are glory hunting Arsenal fans. Just because you don’t like what they say does not mean you are more Arsenal than they are!  Have respect for other people’s views and politely challenge them.  OK rant over.   Back to the article.     

    It would be extremely UNWISE  to keep Bendtner because is is rubbish and no where near the standard of an Arsenal striker!  We should sell him when we can, use the money to buy a player with better basic attributes (speed, power, touch etc), which Wenger can mould into something. Bendtner has NONE of these attributes.  We are seriously lacking a dangerous forward which is why we are so dependent on the midfield.  

    Personally i would rather see Afobe or Aneke given a run out. Bendtner has had his chance and has proven not worthy of the shirt.

    Now Chamakh…. this is really difficult one because he has shown that he does have some quality (at the start of his Arsenal career) and then suddenly has declined.  One key thing is that we are NOT playing to his strength which is his aerial power. When in France how many headed goals did he score???  a lot.  Arsenal have changed his game and it is not a game he is good at.  I am not a Chamakh fan and never was because i think he is too slow and too lightweight, BUT his strength is in the box with his head and we need to play to that or sell him because we are wasting him.  It is like the Jamaican athletics team taking Usain Bolt and making him run the 1,500 metres then complaining when he doesn’t win!   

    Midfield, we should have Jack Wilshere and Aronn Ramsey as the creative midfielders (used alternatively – NOT together), supported by Song and Frimpong as the work-horses, defensive midfielders (kind of how Viera and Gilberto operated).   This will give us the steel we need, protect the back four and allow Jack or Arron to roam and be creative.   Upfront we need a new, quick, powerful striker.

    Just my view and you can choose to disagree (but respectfully please as we are all Arsenal fans) D

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    • Anonymous

      I know what you’re saying about Gilberto and Vieira but that only leaves 4 dedicated attackers. It was ok then because we had Bergkamp, henry and pires who were probably 3 of the best players in the league if not in europe at the time and 2 of those would be in many fans all time best arsenal players list.

      With the players we have now, I think we could struggle to score goals if we play that way. But hey it could be worth a try!

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  • Philbet

    Bendtner is another of those players who get better the longer it is since they played…He was not good enough last season and has stated he wants to go somewhere he will be a reguler starter,so off he will go.

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  • jack

    fuck you james lamb.who the fuck are you to abuse arsene wenger.he is god at arsenal.he knows what he is doing.get your facts right.bendtner himself is leaving.he is not being asked to leave you shithead.do you fucking talk to your parents like that.’wenger would be a fool’ huh.and you are wise and then u ask people to follow you on twitter.its true every fucking guy on internet thinks he is an expert. 

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    • Angelo1971

      Whether you’re right or wrong you’re an animal. I would whip your kind. Stupid animal.

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  • Eamon O’Neill

    Oh no, I think B52 should definitely STAY.   If he was played in his right position he would be nearly as good as MESSI.

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    • Anonymous

      is that a joke?

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  • Monkey36

    I love wenger , i really do . he’s the genius and without him arsenal would never be like this but bendtner became a shitty player because of him . why would you play a center forward at the right wing position ? he’s a target man , tall ( but he suck at heading the ball ) , his finishing is superb but he have a very bad attitude .  so 50 50 .

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    • Nabil Danial

      “…but he have a very bad attitude”
      who says he has bad attitude? as far as his arrogance is concern, i never heard something bad he has done in terms of disciplinary act. so, i think your judgement is misleading… =.=”

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      • Monkey36

        Yo momma is so fat that I took a picture of her last Christmas and it’s still printing !

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  • Qozeem

    A short note to Mr. Wenger.
    Fabregas left us and in less than 4 days he has won a trophy. I’m getting tired of trophyless seasons

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  • Geoff

    Anyone old enough to remember Hillier, McGoldrick, Jensen, Selley?

    That was Graham’s low point and his ‘unsolicited gift’ gave the board a convenient excuse to dismiss him.

    For the above players read today’s equivalent, Denilson, Vela, Eboue, Bendtner, at least Wenger has finally seen the light to rid us of his deadwood.

    Wenger catupulted this club into the stratosphere and we’ve overachieved when compared to our resources for years. Finally he now has money and a world platform to perform on AND expectation that comes from him raising the bar in the first instance.

    At the end of Bergkamp’s first season we were celebrating like we’d won the league and all we had achieved was qualifying for the Uefa cup.

    Some perspective is needed gentlemen, we’re only where we are because of Wenger’s genius. He’s earned the right for one more season and this is it.

    Geoff

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  • Duducane

    bendtner will be ok as long as we have an intelligent distributer and creator behind him.give Arshavin the Cesc role and we will soon forget cesc.AA is very creative,assists and scores.

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    • Ak

      Most ridiculous thing I’ve read. That partnership wouldn’t win the championship. Some people….

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  • Pete

    According to Sky Sports match stats- no Scott Dann in 18 man squad for tonights Europa league game… could this be so he doesn’t get cup tied for Champs league group stages on signing for the Arsenal…. maybe just wishful thinking! :-)

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    • Bigsyisback

      Scott Dann is not an Arsenal player is he, you are just pleased because it is a signing he is nowhere near good enough to be wearing the shirt.

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    • Bigsyisback

      Scott Dann is not an Arsenal player is he, you are just pleased because it is a signing he is nowhere near good enough to be wearing the shirt.

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  • Bedybash

    All teams have their 8-12goals striker and in the last two seasons despite the fact that he(Bendtner) never start up to 15matches but coming in as subtitute he had double digit goals of 11-13 in these two seasons, immagine if he plays more than he does or if he is played in his striking role.
    We might all find out later that instead of letting him go we should have given him more chance,am sure he is one of those late developing players and he has the required stature and ability to archieve that.

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  • Bedybash

    All teams have their 8-12goals striker and in the last two seasons despite the fact that he(Bendtner) never start up to 15matches but coming in as subtitute he had double digit goals of 11-13 in these two seasons, immagine if he plays more than he does or if he is played in his striking role.
    We might all find out later that instead of letting him go we should have given him more chance,am sure he is one of those late developing players and he has the required stature and ability to archieve that.

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